A Singaporean woman, identified as Janis, was arrested at Koh Samui International Airport on May 4 for allegedly operating nominee businesses in Surat Thani, Thailand. Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and Surat Thani Immigration detained her before her scheduled departure, transferring her to a DSI office for further questioning.
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Janis faced allegations of being a director for multiple companies registered in Surat Thani, reportedly using Thai nationals as nominees to establish these companies. Some of these businesses were found to be unregistered, violating the Foreign Business Act. If convicted, Janis could face up to three years in prison, a fine ranging from 100,000 to 1 million baht, or both.
This arrest is part of a broader Thai government crackdown on nominee businesses involving foreign nationals. In April, enforcement actions in Krabi led to the arrest of an Israeli woman and two Thai nationals, targeting over 500 illegal businesses. A similar arrest occurred that month in Phuket, involving another Israeli national in the travel industry.
Experts note that these cases underscore the Thai authorities' increasing vigilance against illegal business practices, emphasizing the severe legal repercussions for both foreign and Thai participants. Official details of the businesses and the identities involved remain undisclosed.
Thai authorities are expected to continue stringent enforcement against such operations, hoping to curb the prevalence of nominee businesses. This case may serve as a stern warning to other foreign operators engaging in similar practices.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 07 Mar 2026